Interlink Scaffolding Ltd (Birtley, Tyne and Wear) was presented with the NASC 2017 Scaffolding Project of the Year award by Mohed Altrad, CEO and President of the Altrad Group, in front of an audience of more than 500 members and guests attending a glittering NASC Annual Ball at the Intercontinental London Park Lane on the evening of Friday 24 November 2017.

The evening had commenced with a speech by Des Moore, newly elected NASC President and CEO of TRAD Group, who had welcomed all present and briefly reprised the speech which he had given earlier at the NASC AGM.

The scaffolding project award was keenly contested, with just three points separating the first three (of twelve) entries. In the view of the judges, Interlink’s New Wear Crossing, Sunderland submission was declared a worthy winner.

‘Interface with the client’ was one of the key criteria for judging the entries, and in this respect the submission from Interlink scored highly. The judges were also extremely impressed by the degree of off-site preparation prior to erection of the bridge structure, complete with scaffolding.

Darren Maratty, MD of Interlink Scaffolding, was delighted to receive the award on behalf of his company. He commented on the complexity of the project, and noted that it had attracted considerable press interest and wider recognition in the construction sector.

The Runner Up for the award was Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding Ltd (Penzance) for their Kresen Kernow, Cornwall submission.

The judges for the award were Mark Castle (Mace), Katrina Dowding (Skanska) and Dean Summers (Berkeley Group) all of whom were thanked for their contribution. Mr Summers commented: ‘It is great to see the scaffolding industry continually improving in so many areas’.

Altrad Group had generously donated an impressive cast acrylic trophy for the award. The acrylic was engraved with scaffolding, and incorporated a polished nickel-plated aluminium base with a replica of the Wellington Arch. Smaller versions of the trophy were presented to the winner and the runner up.

The award presentation had been preceded by a speech by Mohed Altrad, founder of the multi-national Altrad Group.

Following a brief introductory film he outlined his personal story from humble beginnings in Syria, noting that he had been fortunate to benefit from an opportunity to study in Montpellier, France as a young man, where he began to develop his construction business.

He then praised the work of the NASC, noting that it makes a huge difference to the safety of operatives working in the construction sector, and urged all present to provide opportunities in their own businesses to people from diverse and different backgrounds.

Des Moore thanked Mohed Altrad for his personal and inspiring life story, which had clearly resonated with those attending the ball.

Mindful that he had a ‘captive audience’ of wives and other halves, he then stressed the importance of encouraging and mentoring more women into senior positions in the NASC and the scaffolding industry in general. This was one of his four key objectives for his presidency, all of which focused on inclusivity.

Mr Moore concluded his speech by thanking all those who had contributed to the day’s events, in particular Baroness Karren Brady CBE for her inspirational presentation at the AGM.